Cops: Driver arrested after firing at Orlando police officer, causing fatal crash

Man charged with attempted murder on law enforcement officer

ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando police have arrested a man after police say he opened fire on an officer and crashed into another car, killing at least one person.

Gangapersad Ramroop, 23, has been charged with attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, according to OPD. Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.

Police said an OPD officer tried to pull over a car overnight for a traffic violation when the car took off. The officer didn't pursue the car and told others to be on the lookout for the vehicle, according to police.

At around 4 a.m., police said an OPD officer spotted the same vehicle and pulled up behind it when Ramroop, a convicted felon, opened fire on the officer.

Ramroop ended up crashing into another car at West Colonial Drive and Powers Drive. The driver of the other car, 25-year-old Robert Hunter, was ejected from the vehicle and died on the scene. His passenger, 26-year-old Wilgue Pierre, was seriously hurt in the crash and taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center.

Police said 22-year-old Deondre Antonio Mercer was riding his bicycle nearby and jumped off of the bike after hearing the crash, seconds before the other car ran over his bicycle.

"I seen the cars, bam, they hit each other, I seen it come behind me I hopped off the bike," Mercer told Local 6. "It happened so quickly I'm just happy I was able to get off the bike in time."

West Colonial Drive was shut down as the investigation continued but was reopened hours later.


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